Letters to the Editor
Northwestwoods
Published Letters: 405 Editor's Choice: 1
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casual_observer
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[Read more letters about this article: Here]-If the above sounds angry, I suppose it is somewhat. Instead of demonizing Nader, democrats should honestly listen to what he has to say, and adopt what seems good of that to their own platform, and their own campaigns. It wouldn't hurt Obama or Clinton one bit to echo many of the statements that Nader made today on MTP.-
Agreed again. Though I support Obama over Clinton, I believe that Nader has much to bring to the discussion and it can only serve to elevate the quality of the discussion.
Strictly statistically speaking, in a presidential primary season where the Dems turnout is doubling the GOP turnout, coupled with the expected percentage of the vote Ralph can garner (2.75 in 2000 and .014 in 2004 if I am correct and likely to trend downward), I say lets have at it.
At the risk of repeating myself, Ralph says (paraphrasing this time) if the Dems can't landslide the Republicans this year then its time to dismantle the party and start something new from scratch.
BTW, my sister just phoned me from Seattle minutes ago to tell me that her friend, Sally Soriana has been selected as Nader's national campaign strategist. Small world.
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Nader vs no-Nader
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[Read more letters about this article: Here]Nader. No Nader.
Hear me now and forget me later: If this election is close, its doomsday for the Dems. Stolen votes, voter caging, RWA idealogue stacked Supreme Court. Doomsday.
This a get-out-the-vote-moment. Youth vote. Get out the youth to vote. They will not vote for the Bullshit Express. They will not vote for Ralph Nader. They will vote for Obama. I am assuming hillary will not win the nomination because she will not.
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Tom Tomorrow weighs in
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[Read more letters about this article: Here]You have probably seen this but if not....Tom Tomorrow's take on the election. Funny.
http://tiny.cc/zikzikzik
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@ lateagain
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[Read more letters about this article: Here]-But people who paint McCain as some right-wing extremist are just knee-jerk partisans. There's a reason that Rush et al don't like him: He's a moderate.-
With all due respect....bullshit. You are wrong.
McCain is a warmongering neocon. Are you aware that he just recently urged Bush to veto the torture bill or that his entire campaign is managed by high-power lobbyists? How about McCain took more money from Telcos than any other Senator and voted for Telco immunity? Do some research. You are 180 degrees wrong about that point.
Beware of the Bullshit Express. This 'McCain is a moderate' is a huge red herring and Rush et al opposing him and swearing to undo his candidacy is no more than a clever GOP ruse.
Pay attention, Rush is already defending him a week later.
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@ DCLaw1
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[Read more letters about this article: Here]-On the other hand, if he suspects that the Democrat might not be able to win by large enough margins to preclude Nader from throwing the election to the Republican, he is apparently willing and eager to hasten the destruction of the Democratic Party, at the added cost of ensuring that yet another jingoistic, economically regressive Republican becomes the next president. This, for the even further price of failing to create any semblance of a third party infrastructure to fill the void left by the Democrats.
Either way, he knows. He's too smart not to know.-
I can't honestly dispute your point except to say that we can't know Nader's motivations but my feeling is that they are honorable if somewhat naive and risky.
Frankly, I am profoundly disappointed with the Democratic party, especially since 2006 and I am sure I am not alone. That does not mean that I would prefer another four years of dictatorship by the GOP.
However, I still think that Ralph elevates the quality of the content of the discourse and brings to the debate a POV on pertinent issues that the usual suspects will not and dare not tread. For example, you will not hear Ralph professing his 'faith', or sucking up to the NRA by pretending he prays on his knees before bed and hunts small varmints on occasion or that the 8 school shootings so far(thats about one per week to date, people) in 2008 are unfortunate but 2nd Amendment trumps all and its the word of God.
I am simply saying that the guy is within his rights and maybe he will bring something to the discussion that America needs to hear. On the other hand, that could be too risky an experiment given the stakes. And I am the first to admit that they have never been higher.
I will say it again: if this is a close race, the GOP will win. If it is a landslide, the Democratic Party will win but only if it is a landslide.
And Ralph's less than 1% are unlikely to likely mean dick in the final count. The turnout in the primaries has been historic. In the general it needs to surpass historic.
The focus needs to shift to getting out the vote, the one way in which individual citizens can participate in the process that might make a difference (that and working tirelessly at getting the word out that McCain is as far from what he portrays himself to be as a candidate can get).
As I understand it, the US is known to have the lowest voter turnout in the 'free' world, a close vote can only be blamed on a half-baked effort to get out the vote and the lack of a sense of urgency to get active and recruit those voters to get to the polls. I repeat. Youth vote is key. Round up those kids on election day and drive them to the polls yourself. They will vote for Obama.